A/N: This has been fun to write. This story will be somewhat longer than the others.
I do not own the characters, but sure have been having fun with this series. All the disclaimers. Please read and review. Thanks!
Chapter 1
A Change A Coming
The days after Joe's death dragged into weeks, followed by months, and then years. Alex continued to work Vice three more years. Working hard to get past her pain, the empty rooms, the hole in her gut. During her first year without Joe, she volunteered on holidays, weekends off, and skipped vacations. Those nights and days that she had to spend at home, she would wrap herself up in her jacket and sit on the couch in the dark.
The jacket had become soft from its many washings, but still strong enough to envelope her entire being, and keep it safe. Still resilient enough to shed the many tears it felt upon it's sleeves and chest. It did its best to protect this being.
Slowly, Alex began opening up to her family and friends, letting them back into her life, and spent less time in the jacket. One evening she shook it out, and placed it on a hanger in the front closet. Stroking its sleeve, she slowly closed the door upon it. Pausing for a moment, swearing she heard a quiet sob.
On a bleak late October day, Alex was sitting at her desk completing her reports from the day before. Gathering them all up in her hands, she thumped them on her desk top to straighten the stack out. Her captain called her into his office. Shutting the door behind her, Eames took a seat in one of his chairs.
He smiled at Alex. "There's a position for a lead detective at Major Case Squad. I've put your name in the hat."
Alex raised her brows. "But I'm Vice, sir." She had heard about the position through the 'blue grapevine', and had considered it, but...
He waved his hand to silence her. "Alex, you have more to offer NYPD than just working Vice. I have sent your jacket over, and the 'big boys' are interested in meeting with you." His grin had expanded.
Eames felt her stomach fall. These people, here, were her family, friends. She felt safe in the cocoon of Vice. To leave...she shook her head, trying not to think about it. Her captain gave her the date and time of the interview. Alex nodded. In the back of her mind, she knew the 'good ol' boy system' wouldn't fail her.
That evening, Alex opened her front door. Barely inside she kicked her shoes off in the hallway. Opening the closet door, she grabbed the jacket. Walking to her bedroom, she stripped down to her underwear. Grabbing the jacket off of her bed, she put her arms in the sleeves and wrapped it around her. Checking herself out in the mirror, she smiled and dusted off the shoulders. Going to the kitchen, she grabbed a bottle of wine out of the fridge, and a glass out of the cupboard. She poured herself a glassful, then took bottle and glass with her to the couch.
With each sip, she mulled over the thought of being lead detective of MCS. She shook her head. She leaned back and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. Somewhere in the distance, she heard her phone ring. Alex jerked up, tipping her glass over on her. The deep red wine rolled off the jacket and on to her couch. She grabbed for the phone, knocking the bottle over, sending the remaining wine on to her wood floor.
Alex found the phone, picking it up, she mumbled, "Hello?"